The Parade of the 39th at Menari

The small village of Menari is located in the shadow of Brigade Hill, approximately three hours walk south from the strategic highpoint.

Following the withdrawal of Australian troops down the Kokoda Track, the Australian force commander, Brigadier Arnold Potts prepared to make a stand against the advancing Japanese forces at Brigade Hill. As he prepared for the immanent battle Potts found time to pass his congratulations on to Colonel Honner, the officer commanding the 39th Battalion (Militia) regarding the performance of that battalion.

The 39th had just been withdrawn from the frontline at Mission Ridge, the approach to Brigade Hill after being replaced by much needed fresh troops.

They had been in continuous action for five weeks. Their strength on 27th July was 470 and by 2nd September, just five weeks later it was down to 180, of which 90 were ill. It was these remnants of the 39th that paraded at Menari.

Colonel Honner passed the message on personally to the members of the battalion on the cleared area at Menari. Damien Parer, the Australian cinematographer was present as the soldiers formed into remnants of their companies. He was asked by an officer of the 39th if the men should clean themselves up prior to Parer commencing filming. Parer however saw the importance of the moment and insisted that history should see these men as they were.......Ragged bloody heroes, many only boys wearing tattered uniforms, odd boots, hollow eyes, supported by crutches and leaning on each other to remain standing. Instead of rifles, which they passed on to those going to the front, they were holding sticks that they had used for support during their trek back to the frontline.

Colonel Honner addressed his troops; congratulated and praised them for the fine work they had done and said that all of the Australian Army was proud of them. At these words there was a stirring among the ranks of the 39th. Here was an affirmation that the AIF was proud of them, claiming them as Brothers in Arms. This was wonderful news indeed for these weary Militia soldiers.

Colonel Honner continued “for the rest of your days, you will be able to recall these days with the warmth and the knowledge that when the heat was on, you did not buckle, did not take a backwards step. None of us will forget our fallen comrades, but your own efforts have ensured that they will not have died in vain….”

Damien Parer, with his hand held movie camera recorded for posterity, in both film and in the iconic frame of that film, which appears below a great battlefield address by a Commanding Officer to his men. A parade comprising young battle weary exhausted Militia men at a small clearing at the village of Menari, behind the Australian lines on the Kokoda Track.